Walston-Lucas win doubles crown

KENLY — From the No. 3 seed, the team of juniors Graham Walston-Carsse Lucas prevailed in an all-North Johnston High doubles final last Wednesday at the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference boys tennis championship.

The Panthers (12-7, 8-0 EPC) also took the conference tournament championship. Head coach David Anderson was named conference coach of the year.

Walston-Lucas knocked off top seed and teammates Michael Barnes-Scott Sellers 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 in the title match. Both teams will advance to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2-A East Regional.

The Panthers will also send junior Hunter Jones in singles after he turned in a runner-up showing from the No. 2 seed. Jones dispatched Isaiah Hernandez of Nash Central in the semifinals and was defeated by the top seed, Nash Central’s Cameron Johnson, in the championship round.

Johnson, the EPC Player of the Year, lost only two games in his three matches.